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In 1803, Europe was about to become involved in a continental war. The French Empire, led by Napoleon, had begun an aggressive expansionist policy which challenged the interests of United Kingdom. When the Haitian Revolution, with British support, overthrew the French colonial rule on that island, the French Empire began reorganizing its military. To finance this, Napoleon sold the colony of Louisiana to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. From 1804 to 1812, the lower area, which would eventually become the modern state, was known as the "Territory of Orleans". The vast area to the north and west of the Mississippi River was called the "Louisiana Territory".

^Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.

^Louisiana became a state on April 30, 1812, but Claiborne was not sworn in as state governor until July 30.[4]

^Robertson resigned to take a joint seat on the United States District Court for both the Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana; as president of the senate, Thibodaux assumed the duties of governor.

^Derbigny died in office; as president of the senate, Beauvais assumed the duties of governor until his term as president ended, at which time the new president, Dupre, assumed the duties. Sources disagree on why Beauvais' term ended; some say he lost his bid to be reelected as senate president,[5], while others say he resigned so that he could run for governor.[6]

^ abWhile all sources state Walker resigned due to objections to the 1852 constitution,[7][8][9] there is no mention made of Hébert taking office early; it's possible that Walker's resignation was a symbolic one of protest on his last day, or that it was so close to the end of the term that Hébert simply took office then. No known source elaborates.

^ abcdeThe area around New Orleans was captured by the Union on April 25, 1862. The control was enough that it operated within the United States as the legitimate state of Louisiana, electing members to the United States House of Representatives. With both governments being considered legitimate, both lines are included in all lists of governors. The schism ended when the Confederate governor fled and the whole state came under Union control.

^Wells was removed from office by General Philip Sheridan for failing to properly implement Reconstruction reforms. Flanders was appointed by Sheridan to replace Wells, but later resigned due to Major General Winfield Scott Hancock's removing Radical Republicans that Flanders had appointed to positions in state government. Hancock then appointed Baker to replace Flanders.

^During the 1872 election, Warmoth endorsed John McEnery for governor, and the State Returning Board, which he appointed, declared McEnery the winner. However, a rival board declared William Pitt Kellogg the winner, and the legislature impeached Warmoth on charges related to the election. Impeached officials are suspended from office, so at this time, Pinchback filled the office. The term expired only 35 days later, at which point impeachment charges were dropped, as Warmoth was no longer governor.

^The State Election Board certified McEnery as the winner of the 1872 election; however, a rival board declared Kellogg the winner, and the legislature went with that. Both McEnery and Kellogg declared victory and formed governments, and conflict culminated in the Battle of Liberty Place and the Colfax massacre. President Ulysses S. Grant issued a proclamation on May 22, 1873, declaring Kellogg the winner.[10][11]

^Long was elected to the United States Senate for a term beginning March 4, 1931; however, he did not take the seat until January 25, 1932. This was in part to prevent Cyr from replacing him as governor. When the senate term began, Cyr took the oath of office as governor and claimed the office; however, Long called this illegitimate, and said that by taking the oath of office of the governor, he had resigned from being lieutenant governor. This opened the way for the president pro tempore of the senate, King, to become lieutenant governor, and ultimately succeed Long. Cyr continued to claim the office of governor on and off until 1932, but ultimately lacked recognition.[13][14]

^"Louisiana Constitution of 1974"(PDF). Article IV, section 3. A person who has served as governor for more than one and one-half terms in two consecutive terms shall not be elected governor for the succeeding term.